Arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 in malpighian tubules of female yellow fever mosquitoes

• Published in: Insect biochemistry and molecular biology Vol. 23; no. 4; pp. 431 - 437
• Main Authors: PETZEL, D. H, PARRISH, A. K, OGG, C. L, WITTERS, N. A, HOWARD, R. W, STANLEY-SAMUELSON, D. W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Science 01.06.1993
• Subjects: Aedes - chemistry; Animals; Arachidonic Acid - analysis; Arachidonic Acid - metabolism; Biochemistry. Physiology. Immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Dinoprostone - analysis; Fatty Acids - analysis; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Immunohistochemistry; Insect Vectors; Insecta; Invertebrates; Lipid Metabolism; Malpighian Tubules - chemistry; Physiology. Development; Arachidonic acid derivatives; Blood sucking; Insecta; Prostaglandin E2; Excretory system; Lipids; Arachidonic acid; Metabolism; Infection; Malpighian tube; Arthropoda; Viral disease; Eicosanoid; Arbovirus disease; Culicidae; Female; Aedes aegypti; Invertebrata; Diptera; Yellow fever
• ISSN: 0965-1748; 1879-0240
• DOI: 10.1016/0965-1748(93)90050-3

The fatty acid compositions of Malpighian tubules from adult females of the mosquito Aedes aegypti were determined for total lipids, phospholipids, triacylglycerols and three phospholipid fractions, namely phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylinositol/phosphatidylserine (PI/PS). The prostaglandin precursor arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) occurred in total lipids and phospholipids, but not triacylglycerols. Within phospholipids, nearly all of the 20:4n-6 was detected in PC, with only traces in PE, and none was detected in PI/PS. Isolated Malpighian tubules incorporated exogenous radioactive 20:4n-6 into tissue phospholipids and diacylglycerols, with most of the radioactivity recovered in diacylglycerol. These data indicate selective incorporation of 20:4n-6 into tissue lipids. PGE2 was detected in Malpighian tubule whole mounts by immunohistochemical staining. These findings support the idea that prostaglandins are physiologically active in mosquito Malpighian tubules.